STRIKE ZONE – Hyannis pitcher Dean McArdle (2) struck out four in seven innings of work for the Hawks against Orleans July 27.

Hawks are West Division champs, clinch playoff spot

Baseball is said to be a game of failure, but right now the Hyannis Harbor Hawks are savoring the sweet taste of success for the first season in nearly a decade, this week clinching not only their first playoff berth in six years, but also the Barnstable Patriot Cup and the Western Division title.

Being crowned the West Division champs is particularly exciting for the Hawks, since it’s the first time they’ve earned the title since the Cape League created the East and West division in 1988.

The past week’s eight consecutive victories have also given the ballplayers in blue the most wins since 1979, with Hyannis’ overall record currently standing at 27-12-0, for a league-leading 54 points.

With the playoffs fast approaching, Hyannis head coach Chad Gassman is sticking to the mantra he’s sworn by all season.

“One game at a time,” he said.

This week, en route to the West Division crown, the Hawks continued their win streak, besting Wareham, Brewster, Bourne and Orleans, both at home and on the road.

After winning the 2011 Barnstable Patriot Cup July 23 at Lowell Park, the Hawks returned to their home field at McKeon Park to take on the Wareham Gatemen, playing to a 2-1 win.

The Hawks were the first to bust through the pitcher’s duel, with Joey Rickard smacking the first single of the game in the bottom of the fourth.

After Dan Gulbransen was hit by a pitch, Hyannis had two men on and no outs when Kevin Plawecki stepped in and hit a nice double to bring in Rickard for the game’s first run.

Chadd Krist’s single then brought in Gulbransen for the winning run.

Although Wareham’s Max Muncy was able to come home on a wild pitch in the seventh, the Harbor Hawks’ bullpen was solid. Starter Corey Roberts lasted six innings in the game, striking out three and allowing one hit to earn the win. Matt Flemer struck out one and allowed one hit in two innings, with Nick Wittgren earning the save with one strikeout, one walk and one hit with no runs in one inning.

The Hawks traveled to Brewster the following night, defeating the Whitecaps 5-1 at Stony Brook field, with Hyannis scoring three runs in the third and two more in the ninth.

Cal Towey led off the third inning with a single before stealing second and advancing to third on a Brewster error, ultimately scoring on another error during Jamodrick McGruder’s at-bat.

After waiting through five pickoff attempts on McGruder, Eric Stamets hit a nice single to reach first and advance McGruder, before Joey Rickard loaded the bases with his single to center.

With three teammates on, and one in scoring position, Joey DeMichele didn’t disappoint, hitting a single to bring in McGruder, before Hyannis’ next batter, Kevin Plawecki, hit a fielder’s choice that drew out No. 1 but allowed Stamets to come in for run No. 3 for the Hawks.

With the Hawks holding a comfortable 3-1 lead, both McGruder and Rickard tallied again in the ninth, McGruder on a hit from DeMichele and Rickard on a sac fly from Plawecki, adding a bit of insurance before giving way to closer Dietrich Enns and the Harbor Hawks’ defense, who ended the game with a fly out foul and a double play between Zach Vincej, Stamets and John Frost.

Returning home again July 26, the Hawks got the best of the Bourne Braves, playing to a 9-5 win, with all nine runs coming in an explosive sixth inning.

An error by Bourne third baseman Johnny Bladel put Rickard on second base at the start of the sixth, with Austin Elkins hitting a single to reach, for two men on.

DeMichele’s single to left loaded the bases, with Plawecki’s single to left bringing in Rickard for Hyannis’ first run.

Continuing to favor left field was Krist, whose single there brought in Elkins, with DeMichele bringing in the next run on another Bourne error, while Adam Walker reached on a fielder’s choice.

Cal Towey struck out swinging for the inning’s first out, but Hyannis kept up their impressive at-bat, with Plawecki scoring on a Justin Gonzalez walk.

Stamets then brought in two runners, Krist and Walker, with his single, while Gonzalez came home on Elkins’ second at-bat.

A double from DeMichele capped off the nine-run inning by allowing Stamets and Elkins to score, giving the Hawks an unshakeable lead heading into the game’s final innings.

The Hawks’ bats lit up again Wednesday night (July 27) in Orleans, with Hyannis downing the Firebirds 11-2.

The hawks scored seven runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead, beginning with Kevin Plawecki’s long home run over the center field fence, his first of the season.

Next up was Gulbransen with a single, followed by Elkins, who reached on a walk before DeMichele drew the first out.

John Frost’s walk loaded the bases, with Vincej bringing in Gulbransen for the Harbor Hawks’ second run.

Austin Elkins came around for run No. 3 on a sacrifice shot from Stamets, with Rickard’s double to left bringing in Frost and Vincej. Rickard then scored on a single from Krist, who moments later came in on a single from Gulbransen to put Hyannis in the lead 7-0.

Two more runs each in the fourth and fifth put the Hawks even further ahead, while pitcher Dean McArdle didn’t allow the Firebirds to plate a run until the game’s sixth inning.

A home run from Orleans’ Tarran Senay in the seventh lifted the home team fans’ spirits, but it wasn’t enough to start a Firebirds rally, with closer Nick Wittgren closing the door on the game in the ninth.

The Hawks travel to Bourne after the All-Star break, before returning home to McKeon Park July 31 to face the Y-D Red Sox. Hyannis’ last home game before the playoffs is set for Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.